Turning Back Time

Nearly a year ago, I was honored by Jamie of Chosen Chaos to contribute to her weekly series, If I Could Turn Back Timewhere I wrote a letter to my 18 year old self. She is celebrating one year of this series with a linkup where everyone who wrote a letter, links up their post. So if you missed it the first time, well, you can read it here! Thank you, Jamie, for the opportunity.

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Dear 18-year-old Alison,

Those clothes you used to wear? The ones you saved up so hard for? The ones you look at longingly in the shop window? Clothes don’t make a person, you decide who you are from the inside.

That is not stupid. That is wise.

That boy you’re dating? Your first boyfriend? The one who says he loves you to death? He means it. He does. He loves you so much, he tries to destroy your friend’s car for interfering when you tried to break up with him after 18 months.

That is not love. That is jealousy.

Those hours you put into study? The library books you cart home faithfully? Those notes you so studiously copied and read and re-read? Good on you, applying yourself the way you do. Because you’ll get into the university of your choice, to study the course of your choice.

That is not nerdiness. That is being smart.

Those friends you hang out with? The ones you spend all your waking, non-study hours with? The ones who play cards with you every weekend til the wee hours of the morning? The ones who listened to you talk about your insecurities and fears? They are friends for life. When you’re 35, they’ll be living all over the world and you’ll only talk to them via Facebook, but know that they love you and are there for you.

That is not cheesy. That is genuine.

Those hopes and dreams you have? The ambitions and drive? The determination not to fail and self-doubt? Hang on to them, they will serve you well for years to come. Believe in yourself. Love yourself. Be yourself and all will be well.

Love,

Your older, wiser self

What would you say to your 18-year old self?

Don’t forget to link up with Galit of These Little Waves and I, from August 13 – 17 (linky closes at 9.00pm Eastern) for Memories Captured. Our sponsor this month is the fabulous Visions in Vinyl, who create gorgeous vinyl decals for your home. Two lucky linkers will win a decal worth $30 each (including shipping)!

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Alison Lee is a former PR and marketing professional turned work-at-home mother. After a 10-year career in various PR agencies, and of the world’s biggest sports brands, Alison traded in product launches and world travel, for sippy cups, diapers, and breastfeeding. Alison's writing has been featured on Mamalode, On Parenting at The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Everyday Family, Scary Mommy, and DrGreene.com. She is one of 35 essayists in the anthology, My Other Ex: Women’s True Stories of Leaving and Losing Friends. In 2012, she founded Little Love Media, a social media consultancy specializing in blog book tours, and because she doesn’t sleep, is an editor at BonBon Break, an online magazine. Alison lives in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with her husband and four children (two boys and boy/ girl twins).

These are going to be fun to read as I missed a lot of the beginning posts! Isn’t it funny how much power a boy can yield with the words “I love you?” I have a daughter entering high school and this in particular is freaking me out.

I absolutely love this letter and this idea. It is truly so meaningful to put it down on paper, so to speak, because I think it could serve as a good reminder to our children that your life is not defined by high school.thedoseofreality recently wrote…Head To Head: The ’80′s Edition

I would tell my 18 yr old self to NOT open a credit card, to NOT listen to what others say about me because they are really just jealous. I would say do what you feel, be who you are, and don’t make exceptions or excuses for who you are. mrs

I see you as someone who will always accomplish everything you set out to do, and you will do it well. Now let’s hear more about the asshole who wouldn’t let you break up with him!Sandra recently wrote…My kids hate each other!

I love this. And not just the letter. I also love it because I read it the first time around. We’ve been virtual friends for more than a year?! Oh yes. Yes we have. And if I could tell my 18 year-old self anything it would be (a) you don’t know everything and (b) the world is smaller than you think it is.Jessica recently wrote…COMING SOON!

I wish I could tell myself so much. I don’t regret much, I just wish I had the benefit of foresight. Still, I know those things I would tell myself to do differently would have affected the outcome of my life. I likely would never have met Dan. And these kidlets would never be mine. So I think I’ll just let my 18 year old self be. Except to tell her “That guy’s blog you read? The one who is six year’s older and who makes you laugh? He’ll be yours for the rest of your life.” But it was kind of nice to discover that on my own.Laura recently wrote…Blissdom Dreams: 5 Reasons Why I NEED to go to BlissDom Canada

I missed this the first time around and am so happy to get a chance to read it now. Loved it! Wow…destroyed a car in the name of love? I kind of want to hear that story now.

I’d tell my 18 year old self that after the guy who you think is the love of your life breaks your heart, you’ll love again. And to let loose once in awhile. Sometimes breaking the rules is okay.AnnMarie recently wrote…Disappointed

Oh, it is so much fun to do this! I wrote a letter to my 21 year old self right around the time I resigned from my job and it was funny to realize how wrong I’d been about some aspects of life and sad to think 12 years later I was trying to convince myself that the dreams I had at 21 might not all go according to plan.

Such a great post. Isn’t it amazing how differently things are as an adult? At times I would love to go back and ‘change’ choices that I made, but on the other hand those choices, while they weren’t always the best, helped to shape who I am.

It’s funny how my friends at 18 are barely in my life now…just the way life turned for me – but for Mr. Kiss, he’s got amazing friends from those days and when we get to spend time together, I get to witness how great that kind of friendship is- to have that history together. Love it!MommaKiss recently wrote…if I could turn back time

I remember that this letter was one of the first letters of this prompt that I read, it had me thinking for days.
What had I learned over time? What could I see in hindsight?
I especially love the part about your friends, how blessed are you!Mirjam recently wrote…A time to bloom

I'm Alison. Writer, a mother of four (two boys and boy/ girl twins), social media enthusiast and book lover. A believer in the power of chocolate and hugs. Chugging coffee as I type. Want to know more?